The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-21
LETTERS FROM CHINA.
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE OIL
DIR. AND MRS. JAMES B. NEAL.

TUNGCHow, China.
HOW TIE CHINESE COLLECT DEBTS.
On Monday afternoon while MIR. Hal
comb and DR.. Neal were out looking at
the New Years sights and visiting the
temple, mau came for DR.. Mateer, not
knowing there was a regular physician
here, to go TO see man who had taken
opium the night before to commit
suicide. He had been in debt and was
very much annoyed by his creditors
and chose the ordinary method of re-
venge, that is to kill himself and c)me
back as a spirit or ghost to trouble his
enemy and bring all sorts of bad for
tune upon him As soon as Mr.. Hal
comb and DIR Neal returned they start
ed off in great haste with the man aud
one of the servants to make coffee for
them and were gone for nearly six
hours. They brought the man through
by using the stomach pump TO empty
his stomach and to fill it again with
strong coffee, and by giving him by
podermic injections of Atropla.
The next morning four of the mems
relatives came here all in their Sunday
best clothes to thank the Doctor and
pay their respects at this important
season. They have been here once
since to get other medicines, as the
patient did not regain the use of his
limbs at once we have no later news
of his welfare. DR.. Neal says that
when they reached the house the man
had been taIen off OF his bed and out
into the court where he lay on board
so that his spirit should have no diff
Guilty in getting ont OF the house. This
is the common practice; they never let
patient die quietly in the Kang Chat
il the ordinary brick-oven bedstead)
but carry them out to the open door
80 they can easily fly away. And this
debt and credit business is one of the
oldest and strangest customs. Dr..
Mateer says Chinaman is never happy
or at rest unless he has debt to pay
off. As soon as one is all paid he
hurries to open another so as to have
something to inspire him to work. For
two weeks before the New Year every
credi' or is allo " ID to persecute h debtor
as he chooses, to stand at his door and
revile him as well and as hard as he
can, to follow him about anywhere or
even to settle down aud live off of him.
The law has no heI to offer the debt n.
Frequently all these things are done
and up to twelve O'Clock of New
Years eve every body is worried or
busy getting money in any way they
can. Prices go up and money is scarce.
At twelve it is all over, the worship of
the Gods begins and on the morrow
everything is gay and festive. If
man succeeds in bridging over that
time his creditor is not likely to trouble
him until the sam time of the next
year. Our teacher was among the
troubled ones. A man was after him
ever so many times each day and he
said his uncle was so distressed by the
mans attention that he wanted to take
opium and die. Often times they
drink the opium and lie down to die at
the door of their enemy, Truly they
are strange people with queer Ideas.
Our teacher wanted to know if his
uncle did take the drink if the Doctor
could save him. We felt very sorry
for the poor fellow, his distress was
real. and he worried himself sick.
Ertract from Mrs. NeaFs letter